Well, I had my first blue heron patroling the banks this morning. Is there anything I can do to keep them away?

Couldn't resist:


https://www.volquartsen.com/vc//pages/public/ListItems.jsp?id=10


The 204 is my personal favorite.

I tried bottle-rockets,it didnt work but it was pretty funny when one caught up to the heron and went BANG about 6 ft from him/her.Only regret is it didnt have a heaart attack and die in flight!!!
No,I didnt say that aabout that poor bird,did I????

thats a nice rifle, but being in the city limits, not a good idea. I have thought about getting a BB gun.

I think he left my pond up here because it's ice covered. Do me a favor will ya? Take him out so he doesn't come back.

Some solutions:

electric wire around the pond

heavy line on stakes so he can't wade in

train a dog to run him off

Keep running him off and hope he gets discouraged and finds some place else. (Rarely works)

Shoot, shovel, and shut up, but for God's sake don't get caught!

Due to the Blue Heron's solitary nature, they tend to avoid their own kind outside of mating season. Try placing a Blue Heron decoy along the shoreline.

However, I cannot personally attest to the effectiveness of this method because I tend to think like ahvasta... The sure fire method.

junk food

if they are pesky like children. Works like a charm. At least with children.

they will keep coming back unless you are always at the pond. Some friends of ours have two big dogs that are suppose to chase the heroin but they just stare at him and then decide its easier to go take a nap. I hope my pond wont have that problem once its finished this spring. I like the 22 rifle idea it works on coyotes and those coons why not the Heroins

Heroin is probably too addictive. I was thinking more like gumdrops or skittles.

Check out the new LEVEREVOLUTION ammunition made by Hornady. It will turn your old 30-30 into a 200 yard critter getter, the ballistics are unbelievable.

Not always. If the pickings are good they will sometimes be found in groups. I know a fish farmer that has told me about a state hatchery having several lined up for an easy meal.

i went to the upper pond after dark one night last year and 6 or 7 got up and skedadled. that upper pool was full of tadpoles, still is at -5 wehre there is open water.

i think they have colonies where they nest?

OKie,

I guess your fish are doing good.... Are you feeding them a little yet. Hows it all going with the new pond. There are some excellent pellet guns out there. The Gamo varmint hunter for less then 200 bucks comes with a nice scope/night, or this one for $250 at 40/50 yards a mouse is in trouble..

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.T...cmCat=CROSSSELL

I have several small fish eating birds that are regulars and from what I can see they become regulars because there is a constant supply of food. They will continue to come back as long as the food lasts or another more productive food source becomes available and they don't have time to visit. If I can't discourage them as soon as they try to land it is almost a certainty they will be back. The only thing that keeps them some what in check is that they are territorial. That blue heron you have will be tough to evict if you have enough food for him. Their drive to eat easily overcomes any fear they might have of you. I have learned to live with my small birds, the fish produce faster than the birds consume. There are many suggestions on this site, plastic owls, scarecrows etc. Some are very funny reading. I

I have several small fish eating birds that are regulars and from what I can see they become regulars because there is a constant supply of food. They will continue to come back as long as the food lasts or another more productive food source becomes available and they don't have time to visit. If I can't discourage them as soon as they try to land it is almost a certainty they will be back. The only thing that keeps them some what in check is that they are territorial. That blue heron you have will be tough to evict if you have enough food for him. Their drive to eat easily overcomes any fear they might have of you. I have learned to live with my small birds, the fish produce faster than the birds consume. There are many suggestions on this site, plastic owls, scarecrows etc. Some are very funny reading.

I got this Gamo/BSA scope combo at Wal-Mart for $149. I am very impressed with the power and accuracy, and the scope and scope mount are very nice for the price. It's not as quiet as I would like though. You get a supersonic crack with the PBA ammo.

http://www.gamousa.com//Catalog.aspx?Product=67

Everyone thinks I am joking when I tell them how powerful and accurate these guns are. I could group them at 50 yards no problem. I have not tryed the raptor pellets, Tryed several differnt pellets and like the crossman pointed pellets. I want to try the raptors though.

http://www.gamousa.com//Catalog.aspx?Category=1

Joey,
my pond is doing great. About 4 feet from being full. I have been quite suprised on how much run off I'm getting and how quick it is filling up. I've only seen 8 floaters so far and most of those were FHM's. The water temp is in the 40's so I haven't tried to feed yet. I'm ready for spring to get here so I can start feeding though.

Bob and/or Joey, what is the accurate range on the pellet guns? I'm using 22 calibri's to shoot tree rats in town. They have no powder and so are pretty quiet. Their low velocity makes the accuracy suspect. No way I can believe I could ever make a bad shot. It must be the gun or cartridge.

It's a poor musician who blames his instrument. :p

Dave at 40 yards you can group them pretty good I would say a 2 or 3 inch group, at 30 yards you can just about put then in the same hole, a 1 -2 inch group. At 30 yards a broadside shot, say on a muskrat, it will go right threw them, NO PROBLEM.. Depending on the pellet will dictate the damage. The hollow points hit real hard but I feel you loose a little accuraccy at a distance. I like the lead pointed, they seem to wack hard but fly perfect. The Varment hunter or the same gun in its regular way, the only differnce is the scope. I see gamo has a actual air rifel that get up to 1650 FPS (the Hunter) that is nuts for a air gun, the 1200 FPS is plenty. The scopes are excellent on these things. I got mine at gander mountain. I think walmart usually has the varmint hunter. Just be careful if you get one, to get one from the shadow series because Gamo has ones that only shoot 850 FPS which is good but get the 1000/1200 FPS models. Post after you get it I would like to know what you think

Dead-eye Dave was messin with you Theo. :p

Even with a pellet gun he can trim the whiskers off a tree rat at 50 yards.

Thanks Joey. I probably won't get one for awhile. There has been a recent discussion concerning a closet full of guns, 11 (yep) tackle boxes, 40 something rods and reels (how'd that happen?), the new battery operated drill motor to add to my collection, etc., etc., etc..... I expect that others run into the same type of narrow mindedness.

Theo, the magic is never in the wand but is dependent on the Magician who wields it (Hugh Hefner).

You have a problem, DD - you need a bigger closet.